Chapman, Davis municipal parking lot gets makeover

Will be closed for at least 2 months

GREENFIELD — The municipal parking lot on Chapman and Davis streets will be closed to the public for at least the next two months as the town repaves it, builds new sidewalks there, and does some landscaping.

The town also plans to install LED lighting throughout the lot.

The $300,000 project began this week, according to Sara Campbell, the town’s engineering superintendent. C.D. Davenport is doing the work.

Campbell said the new alignment of the lot will result in an increase of 10 parking spaces. There are currently 194 spaces.

She said trees will be planted to add shade, and a landscaped island midway in the lot will receive runoff and filter storm water.

Once the work has been completed, the lot will go back to being a “pay and display” lot and the electric car charging station will be reinstalled.

Holders of annual parking passes for the Davis and Chapman streets lot will be able to park in the Hope Street lot with their parking passes and shoppers and downtown visitors will have other options, including meters on Main and Federal streets, as well as lots on Ames Street, Legion Avenue, Miles Street, Main Street and Olive Street.

People should not park in private lots, said Campbell.

She said bids were received last September, but because it was so late in the season, the town decided to wait until spring to begin the project.

Mayor William Martin said the town is borrowing the money and will use parking revenue and parking ticket revenue to pay it back.